Characteristic polynomial patterns in difference sets of matrices (Q2801724)

The authors establish an analogue of Furstenberg-Sárközy theorem for difference sets of matrices. Their main result is: For every subset \(E\) of positive density in the set of integer square-matrices with zero traces, there exists an integer \(k\geq 1\) such that the set of characteristic polynomials of matrices in \(E-E\) contains the set of all characteristic polynomials of integer matrices with zero traces and entries divisible by \(k\). A measure rigidity result for actions on homogeneous spaces by Benoist-Quint is used for the proof of this result. Finally, the authors also show a ``sum-product'' analogue of Bogolyubov's Theorem [\textit{I. Z. Ruzsa}, in: Combinatorial number theory and additive group theory. With a foreword by Javier Cilleruelo, Marc Noy and Oriol Serra (Coordinators of the DocCourse). Basel: Birkhäuser. 87--210 (2009; Zbl 1221.11026)] as an application of the main result.